1 Blessed is the man[1]who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[2] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (ESV)

Footnotes:

1. The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface

2. Or instruction

Our Father,

Guide us today by your Holy Spirit to walk according to your counsel and delight in your Word. Instill it within our hearts and by your Spirit let your Word become a lamp and guide us on the right path giving us joy in the process. Let us meditate on your counsel and plainly see each step we need to take before us today.

Let us be like a tree planted securely and nourished by your Word. Let not the evil around us in our culture pressure us to do the very things that we know are wrong; but let your Spirit show us the way of escape and the path of the righteous even in the middle of confusing and hard choices that we must make today. Let also your joy and love leap from us and bless the lives of all those we come in contact with…